The overmature lower Cambrian Niutitang shale in southern China is considered a promising shale play. Drilling results have often fallen short, however, with limited industrial gas flow confined primarily to the Sichuan Basin. This study investigates the recent shale gas breakthroughs in the Yichang area, located outside the basin. Gas generation potential, storage capacity, preservation conditions, and the impact of advanced engineering techniques are comprehensively examined. The euxinic-anoxic conditions and high primary paleoproductivity foster organic-rich shale formation, with the high total organic matter content of the shale (average: 4.66%) reflecting its rich material base. The abundance of siliceous organisms has contributed to the development of biogenic quartz, making siliceous-rich shale the dominant lithology. The high organic matter (OM) content, coupled with the microcrystalline quartz framework, ensures well-developed OM pores, with a porosity of 1.92% to 4.01% (average: 3.24%) and a pore volume of 10.9 × 10⁻³ to 31.9 × 10⁻³ cm³/g (average: 22.2 × 10⁻³ cm³/g). Despite posthydrocarbon generation tectonic influences, the sealing capacity of the shale system remains robust. Highly diffusible free gas may also dissipate significantly during long-term uplift. As a result, present-day shales are low in formation pressure and dominated by adsorbed gas. High-yield gas flow can still be achieved by using a combination of membrane nitrogen gas lift and electric submersible pump. This study highlights the potential for ancient shale accumulation in complex tectonic regions and provides valuable insights for developing low-pressure shale gas reservoirs.